2000 Sri Lankan Rupees Banknote (Sigiriya Rock)

2,000 Rupees Rupee (Issued 2005)

Sri Lanka’s economy was undergoing a period of significant reconstruction and financial modernisation in the mid-2000s, with the Central Bank working to strengthen monetary infrastructure in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and ongoing civil conflict. The 2000 Rupee denomination, introduced as part of the 2001–2009 issue series, represented one of the highest-value notes in everyday circulation and reflected both the inflationary pressures of the period and the ambition to produce a technically sophisticated piece of currency. Issued with the date 2005-11-02, this note demonstrates the printing standards that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka maintained through a decade of considerable national challenge. It stands as a document of the island’s resilience and institutional continuity.

On the front, the dominant imagery is centred on a large, detailed engraving of Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the ancient fifth-century citadel rising dramatically from the surrounding landscape, rendered in dark brown and grey tones with considerable tonal depth and fine line-work that gives the stonework and natural rockface a three-dimensional quality. To the left of the central image, a processional scene features a decorated ceremonial elephant accompanied by traditionally costumed figures, printed in warm brown tones with fine engraving detail. The overall colour palette of the front face is a warm salmon-pink and peach with orange and ochre tones, overlaid with intricate guilloché rosette patterns in the right-hand portion of the note, incorporating a circular mandala-like decorative device rendered in orange, gold, and cream. A vertical security thread is embedded near the right side of the note. The large numeral “2000” appears prominently in the upper left in a bold, stylised font, and again as a large latent watermark-style numeral in the lower right quadrant in a deeper orange tone. The issuing authority text reads “Central Bank of Sri Lanka” in English, and Sinhala and Tamil script text appears above this in the upper portion of the note. A facsimile signature of the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka appears in the central area, accompanied by printed signature text. The serial number P/1 321090 appears in blue-green ink on the left side, printed vertically. Below the Sigiriya image, the denomination is given in Sinhala script, and in the lower right the English text reads “TWO THOUSAND RUPEES”. The date 2005-11-02 is printed beneath the Governor’s signature. A small decorative lamp motif appears in the upper left corner area. The right-hand margin features a vertical denomination strip printed in deep red-orange, bearing the numeral “2000” and further text.

The reverse presents a large central vignette reproducing what appears to be an ancient fresco painting, closely resembling the celebrated Sigiriya Apsara or celestial maiden frescoes — a female figure depicted from the waist upward, rendered in warm amber, terracotta, and brown tones, holding what appears to be a flower. The fresco-style imagery is enclosed within a rectangular panel surrounded by an ornate border of interlocking geometric and floral engraved patterns in deep reddish-brown. Above the central vignette, the issuing authority name appears in Sinhala script, Tamil script, and in English as “CENTRAL BANK OF SRI LANKA”. Below the vignette, the denomination is printed in Sinhala script and Tamil script, and the English text “TWO THOUSAND RUPEES” appears at the foot of the note. The large numeral “2000” is printed in the upper left in the same bold stylised typeface as the front, and again in large format along the right margin. A decorative floral rosette motif in orange appears at the top centre. The background of the reverse displays a pale watermark-receptive paper texture with subtle repeated patterning visible across the field. A small printer’s imprint appears in the lower right margin. The overall colour tone of the reverse is a warm reddish-brown and peach, consistent with the front face.

Wondering who buys foreign coins and notes? Webuyallcurrency.com does — a 2000 Rupees banknote like this is accepted alongside other old or withdrawn Sri Lankan Rupees banknotes, so you can exchange the lot for cash at once.

• Indicate the quantity of 2,000 Rupees Rupee banknotes you want to exchange
• Click the ‘Add to your account’ button
• Your online account now shows the exchange value

From leftover holiday money to inherited collections, Webuyallcurrency.com will exchange or buy your Sri Lankan Rupees banknotes and other foreign currency, handling old and withdrawn pieces in the same simple process.

Other Sri Lankan Rupees you can exchange: 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100.